Colorado Avalanche / NHL

Avalanche's J.S. Giguere happy for start vs. Minnesota Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Avalanche goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is looking forward to his second start of the season and right winger Milan Hejduk is hoping to celebrate his birthday with a victory.

Colorado's two oldest players led the otherwise young team in a light morning skate Thursday in preparation for a rematch against their opening-night opponent, the Minnesota Wild.

Giguere, 35, is making his first start since Jan. 31, when the Avs won at Calgary 6-3 to end a three-game losing streak. He hopes to end another three-game skid Thursday night against a Minnesota squad that beat the Avs 4-2 in the Jan. 19 opener.

Avalanche goalie J.S. Giguere. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

"It's a short season, so as a backup you know it's going to be few and far between, but whenever you get the chance, you have to be excited about it, upbeat, accept the challenge and give them a reason to play you again," Giguere said after the skate at the Xcel Energy Center.

Hejduk is celebrating his 37th birthday. "I would like a win, and a couple smiles," he said. "I want to see some happiness."

Center Matt Duchene, who did not practice Wednesday in Colorado, is nursing a sore hip, but will play. He said it's frustrating to have another leg injury after being limited to 58-of-82 games last season with knee and foot/ankle injuries.

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